Machine Vision and the field of Artificial Intelligence are both new technologies which hive evolved mainly within the past decade with the growth of computers and microchips. And although research continues both have emerged from tF experimental state to industrial reality. Today''s machine vision systEns are solving thousands of manufacturing problems in various industries and the impact of Artificial Intelligence and more specifically the ue of " Expert Systems" in industry is also being realized. This pape will examine how the two technologies can cross paths and how an E7ert System can become an important part of an overall machine vision solution. An actual example of a development of an Expert System that helps solve machine vision lighting and optics problems will be discussed. The lighting and optics xpert System was developed to assist the end user to configure the " Front End" of a vision system to help solve the overall machine vision problem more effectively since lack of attention to lighting and optics has caused many failures of this technology. Other areas of machine vision technology where Expert Systems could apply will also be ciscussed.